How to build your communication skills

Communication
Communication is the transfer of information and understanding from one person to another person. It is the way of reaching others with facts, ideas, thoughts and values. It includes Listening Speaking Writing Reading

Importance of communication
Through communication, people reach some understanding of each other, learn to like each other, influence one another, build trust, and learn more about themselves and how people perceive them. People who communicate effectively know how to interact with others flexibly, skillfully, and responsibly, but without sacrificing their own needs and integrity. For example: Communication is a significant part of a managers job. In todays team-oriented workplace, the development of good interpersonal communication skills is an important key to success. To build the competence and commitment of employees, a manager has to communicate effectively. Through effective communication, a manager can mobilize the employees behind an organizations vision and inspire a conscious and concerted team effort to attain the vision.

Communication styles
There are many types of communication styles but four basic communication styles are Passive Aggressive Passive-aggressive Assertive

Passive style
Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode, people do not talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. They usually have a low sense of self-esteem, and have a difficult time recognizing their own needs and knowing how to meet them more appropriately. They internalize discomfort rather than risk, upsetting others. This style tends to result in a lose-win situation, and results in feelings of victimization, resentment, and a loss of a sense of control.

Aggressive style
Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. People adopting the aggressive style create a win-lose situation. They use intimidation and control to get their needs met, and they are disrespectful and hurtful to others in communications. They have the underlying beliefs that power and control are the only way to get needs met. They operate from a real sense of inadequacy and may have a lack of empathy for others.

Passive-aggressive style
Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. A combination of styles, passiveaggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). The passive-aggressive people incorporate elements of both of the previous styles. They try to use procrastination, forgetfulness, and intentional inefficiency rather that being direct in their communications with others. This style of communication often leads to office politics and rumor-mongering.

Assertive style
The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. Its how people naturally express themselves when their self-esteem is intact, giving them the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation. The assertive people are direct with the goal of creating a win-win situation. They operate from the belief that each person is responsible for solving his or her own problems, and neither party in communication has to justify themselves to each other. They take responsibility for their own decisions and actions.

Importance of communication styles

Understanding the four basic types of communication will help people learn how to react most effectively when confronted with a difficult person. It will also help them recognize when they are using manipulative behavior to get their own needs met. They should remember that they always have a choice as to which communication style to use. If they are serious about taking control of their life, they should practice being more assertive. It will help them diffuse anger, reduce guilt and build relationships - both personally and professionally.

Strategies for developing assertive communication

Watch your body posture practice using an open, assertive body language and voice. Think before you speak. Take a few seconds to make sure you are conveying the right message, and in the way you want to convey it. Dont apologize if its not warranted. Remember it is ok to say no.

What makes a good communicator

An active listener An effective presenter A quick thinker A win-win negotiator

Active listener An effective listener must have following abilities. Setting the stage Choose an appropriate physical environment Remove distractions Be open and accessible Listen with empathy Insuring mutual understanding Reflect feelings Paraphrase main ideas Interrupt to clarify Confirm next steps Understanding body language Observe position and posturing Make eye contact Consider expression and gestures Suspending judgment Concentrate Keep an open mind Hear the person out An effective presenter An active presenter is actually a good speaker and has a powerful ability to speak well and correctly according to the situation. An effective listener must fulfils the following points. Be considerate of others. Do not embarrass others. Dont draw attention to yourself. When you speak, be concise. When a person tries his/ her best and fails, do not criticize him/ her.

When you must give advice or criticism, consider the timing, whether it should be given in public or private, the manner and above all be gentle. Do not make fun of anything important to others. If you criticize someone else of something, make sure you are not guilty of it yourself. Actions speak louder than words. Do not detract from others nor be overbearing in giving orders. Do not go where you are not wanted. Do not give unasked-for advice. Do not be quick to talk about something when you dont have all the facts. Do not speak badly of those who are not present. Show interest in others conversation, but dont talk with your mouth full. While manners of speech matters a great deal in defining the workplace relationships, it is also essential that managers keep in mind that the following ground rules while speaking to their colleagues or subordinates. Keep the message clear Be prepared Keep the message simple Be vivid when delivering the message Be natural Keep the message concise A good reader Good reading habits and strategies help people handle their tasks more efficiently. Kellie Fowler (Reading Strategies Mind Tools) offers the following six reading strategies to people for optimal results: Knowing what is needed to be known, and reading appropriately Knowing how deeply to read the document: skimming, scanning or studying Using active reading techniques to pick out key points and keeping the mind focused on the material Using the table of contents for reading magazines and newspapers, and clipping useful articles Understanding how to extract information from different article types Creating a table of contents for reviewing material Using indexes, tables of contents and glossaries to help assimilate technical Information An effective writer Crisp and correct writing is essential to successful leadership communication. When a letter, report, or program handout includes an error, readers are likely to remember the error rather than the message. The following are some of the principles managers must bear in mind while setting out to write.

Proof-read aloud everything. By reading aloud, your ear will catch mistakes your eye misses. Make no assumptions. The ideas you are presenting must be explained in full to be understood. People read only what is on the page. Do not lecture. Write only what must be understood to make the proper decision or choice. Rough draft all important letters and reports. Check them for content, sequential development of ideas, and conciseness. Many people are too busy to read carefully. Be sure your ideas are clear and easy to follow. As a general rule, the most effective manner in which to develop an idea is: Concept F Benefit Example F Data. This method leads your reader to the conclusion you want because the conclusion is already clearly stated as the concept (hypothesis). Your examples and data should support the conclusion you make. Define all terms and eliminate vague pronouns. These two traps cause more problems in writing than any other set of conditions. Plan your time to allow for proof reading and correcting. When your success depends upon the quality of your letters and reports, there are no excuses for ineptitude.

Three myths of communication

Myth One: Communication is the magical cure for all our woes. Myth Two: Communication cannot break down, machines break down. Myth Three: Communication is Merely Skill Building. Communication is a complex process that must be taken and understood as a whole.

Seven actions of effective communication

Following are the seven important actions that are required for an effective communication. 1. Listen more carefully and responsively. Listen first and acknowledge what you hear, even if you dont agree with it, before expressing your experience or point of view. 2. Explain your conversational intent and invite consent. You can help your conversation partners cooperate with you and reduce possible misunderstandings by starting important conversations with a stated invitation to join you in the specific kind of conversation you want to have. 3. Express yourself more clearly and completely. Slow down and give your listeners more information about what you are experiencing by using a wide range of I-statements. 4. Translate your (and other peoples) complaints and criticisms into specific requests, and explain your requests. In order to get more cooperation from others, whenever possible ask for what you want by using specific, action-oriented, positive language rather than by using generalizations, whys, donts or somebody shoulds. 5. Ask questions more open-endedly and more creatively.

6. Express more appreciation. To build more satisfying relationships with the people around you, express more appreciation, delight, affirmation, encouragement and gratitude. Because life continually requires us to attend to problems and breakdowns, it gets very easy to see in life only what is broken and needs fixing. 7. Make better communication an important part of your everyday life. In order to have your new communication skills available in a wide variety of situations, you will need to practice them in as wide a variety of situations as possible, until, like driving or bicycling they become second nature. The seventh action is to practice your evolving communication skills in everyday life, solving problems together, giving emotional support to the important people in your life, and enjoying how you are becoming a positive influence in your world. One deeper level of this seventh step concerns learning to separate yourself from the current culture of hatred, animosity and violence, and learning how to create little islands of cooperation and mutuality.